The Log Journal "Our friends at New Amsterdam Records have given us the opportunity to share a number of exclusive album previews in recent months. Today we’ve got something different to offer along with NewAm: our first VIDEO premiere, for the Molly Joyce composition Shapeshifter. Performed by the Dutch duo of violinist Monica Germino and sound engineer Frank van der Weij, the piece is one of two works included on Joyce’s new digital EP, 'Lean Back and Release.'

Molly Joyce: “Shapeshifter is a work inspired and motivated by physical change and its many implications. When I originally wrote it for the violin and engineer duo of Monica Germino and Frank van der Weij, I was aiming for the violin to gradually ‘shape-shift’ to a new and divergent sound. Thus the video to accompany excerpts of the work utilizes projection mapping and more to distort the actress’s appearance and propel her to a new physical image.”

The title track is followed by a more recent work, "Shapeshifter", originally written for the Dutch duo of violinist Monica Germino and sound engineer Frank van der Weij. Premiered in April 2015 in The Hague and Amsterdam, "Shapeshifter" is motivated by the concept of control and losing it. It is driven by the fact that with the duo, Frank is typically not seen visually, and therefore the idea of him controlling Monica’s sound and gradually letting go of that control is highlighted throughout the piece, and for Monica to gradually “shape-shift” to a new and divergent sound. The Shapeshifter recording was engineered by Frank van der Weij, Krišs Veismanis, and mixed by Michael Laurello, and mastered by Greg Kalember.

Molly Joyce on both works: "Lean Back and Release' and 'Shapeshifter' represent some of my first explorations into composing for acoustic instruments with accompanying electronics, and specifically how these instruments' sounds can transform electro-acoustically. With both works I was striving for a clear form that is driven by the changing range of the solo violinist, and how that change can be driven by an electronic backing track that is also derived from the acoustic violin. Both pieces are also very much inspired by the violinists they are written for, and were written to challenge and showcase Adrianna and Monica's talents in new and unexpected ways."

We celebrated with live preview in the Netherlands in Ostade A'dam for a capacity audience. Video: Marcel Wierckx, sound design & recording: Frank van der Weij.

"...In her fiery performance of composer Michael Gordon's "tour-de-force of slowly rising intensity" [The Daily Telegraph], violinist Monica Germino revels in pushing the signal-processed limits of her instrument in collaboration with sound designer Frank van der Weij. Filmed and edited by video artist Marcel Wierckx, Industry captures a bold, futuristic and ultimately high-voltage vision of one of the most compelling works in new classical music. At the composer’s request, Germino and van der Weij sought to create the definitive violin version of Gordon's work — a challenge that ultimately resulted in adapting the instrument solely for this piece of music. Germino performs on a modified, amplified, extreme scordatura acoustic violin, together with a battery of effects."

AMERICAN WIZARDRY explores the wizardry of transformation. This new program features American composers as the wizards working with Monica Germino and Frank van der Weij to transform sound and exploit new technologies. The show celebrates the intriguing collaboration of composer-performer-sound designer, with works for violin and sound design by Missy Mazzoli, Julia Wolfe, David Dramm, Annie Gosfield, Michael Gordon, and a world premiere by Molly Joyce.

About the new video clip of Michael Gordon's INDUSTRY:

"...In her fiery performance of composer Michael Gordon's "tour-de-force of slowly rising intensity" [The Daily Telegraph], violinist Monica Germino revels in pushing the signal-processed limits of her instrument in collaboration with sound designer Frank van der Weij. Filmed and edited by video artist Marcel Wierckx, Industry captures a bold, futuristic and ultimately high-voltage vision of one of the most challenging works in new classical music."

This BRAND-NEW music video on Cantaloupe Music will be available soon for download through Cantaloupe Music and Bang on a Can, as well as all major online distributors.

The crisscrossing paths Frank and Monica have taken over the years have led to many an unexpected destination. Each new piece catapulted the duo into a next round of discoveries. Besides performing brilliant new works for violin and sound engineer, Monica and Frank aim to increase audience awareness of the thrilling 3-way collaboration of composer-performer-sound designer. The duo continues to document and share the working process with the audience through pre-recorded (audio or video) composer introductions preceding each piece. This additional layer unites the past with the present, and brings the composers into the forefront alongside the performers. The duo began recording composers in 2007, and the ever-expanding project has grown into a fascinating collection of composer insights.

AMERICAN WIZARDRY explores the wizardry of transformation. American composers are the wizards working with Monica Germino (violin/voice/kick drums) and Frank van der Weij (sound design) to transform sound, execute unconventional feats and exploit new technologies.

The music: Missy Mazzoli, Julia Wolfe, David Dramm, Annie Gosfield, and a world premiere by Molly Joyce.

Plus, on 11 April only*: NEW RELEASE celebration & presentation of the video clip of Michael Gordon's INDUSTRY.

*NEW RELEASE: this BRAND-NEW music video on Cantaloupe Music will be available for exclusive download through Cantaloupe Music and Bang on a Can, as well as all major online distributors. Music: Michael Gordon. Video: Marcel Wierckx. Adapted violin: Monica Germino. Recording & sound design: Frank van der Weij.

The crisscrossing paths Frank and Monica have taken over the years have led to many an unexpected destination. Each new piece catapulted the duo into a next round of discoveries. Besides performing brilliant new works for violin and sound engineer, Monica and Frank aim to increase audience awareness of the thrilling 3-way collaboration of composer-performer-sound designer. The duo continues to document and share the working process with the audience through pre-recorded (audio or video) composer introductions preceding each piece. This additional layer unites the past with the present, and brings the composers into the forefront alongside the performers. The duo began recording composers in 2007, and the ever-expanding project has grown into a fascinating collection of composer insights.

Events»Classical & OperaMonica Germino and Frank van der Weij The Dutch duo of the violinist Monica Germino and the sound engineer Frank van der Weij present a multimedia program of contemporary works for solo violin and electronics by the composers Karlheinz Essl, Louis Andriessen and more.

SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

"In a program for violin and electronics at the Austrian Cultural Forum, Amsterdam-based Monica Germino showed the power of savvy programming, with Frank van der Weij using technology about as perfectly as it gets."

Frank van der Weij and I were thrilled to give the US premiere of Julia Wolfe's relentless and ravishing 'With a blue dress on' - for live violin/voice, 4 prerecorded violins & 4 prerecorded voices, performed by one player & one sound designer.

The piece was described by The New York Times as "...a gloriously free and wild fiddle tantrum in which virtuosity and mischief-making went hand in hand."

Chris McGovern, in his wonderful blog The Glass, honored me with comparisons to some of my favorite violinists out there:

"Performing the US Premiere of Julia Wolfe’s “With a blue dress on”, violinist Monica Germino basically reminded me of something that combines the homegrown primal music of Iva Bittova with the electro-acoustics of Todd Reynolds or Neil Dufallo. An amazing tour de force of progressive fiddling and paraphrasing."

"...the beautiful solo violin performance of Monica Germino. I’ve seen a fair helping of works for solo instrument and electronics, but Julia Wolfe’s With a blue dress on may be my new favorite…a major work for solo violin (expecting the violinist to sing)…" "Germino was awe-inspiring in her performance of the work and the sound design by Frank van der Weij was just right…definitely one of the highlights of the concert so far."

"As part of the New York River to River Festival, violinist Monica Germino, based in Amsterdam, is coming to New York to perform as part of the Bang on a Can Marathon, in the US premiere of Julia Wolfe’s piece, With a blue dress on. The Bang on a Can Marathon is a new music extravaganza, which has become an annual, not - to - be - missed event in New York and beyond since it was first held in 1987. Together with Dutch sound artist / engineer Frank van der Weij she will also perform and present a workshop at the Austria Cultural Forum New York." photo: Julia Wolfe and Monica Germino